Spring-wheel.



E. K. RABEYF SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1915.

Patented Feb.15,1916.

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EDWARD K. RABEY, F DEANES, VIRGINIA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

Application filed June 14, 1915. Serial No. 34,109.

To all whom it may concern:

1 Wheels; and I do hereby declare the fol lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to improvements in a resilient outer structure for vehicle wheels, and is especially intended to provide a resilient metallic construction which will give the desired cushioning effect as the vehicle travels over theroad; yet will be strong, durable and efficient, not likely to become clogged up with mud, ice, or other foreign matter, not likely to rattle, and not likely to get out of order.

My invention comprises a small inner 1 wheel or hub, and a series of bent springs connected to the periphery thereof, the ends of which springs are substantially straight, but when applied to the wheel are bent to form the arcs of circles, which ends are secured together to form a rim or tread, which tread may engage directly on the ground, or may be supplemented by an exterior tread if desired. 1

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment of the invention is shown. 1

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the complete wheel, parts being brokenaway; Fig. 2 is a section along theline 2-2 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a detail showing in perspective one of the springs used in the construction of the wheel; and-Fig. 4 shows a section through one of the safety bufl'ers mounted in said springs.

A represents the hub of the wheel provided with suitable spokes B and a felly C on which the felly band D is mounted in the usual way.

Mounted on the felly band D is the channeled rim E to which the inner ends of the spring members'F are secured as by means of suitable rivets. These spring members F are provided at their inner ends with one or two flanged portions 1 and 2, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, and then project outward radially, as at 3, and are then bent in the form of a resilient loop 1, perforated as at 5 to receive'the bolts H, and beyond this looped portion L the spring projects radially again terminating in the elongated arm 7, which is normally straight, as indicated in Fig. 3, and when fitted on the wheel is bent to form the arc of a circle asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. 1

The ends of the spring members F overlap'as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and these overlapping ends are fastened together securely as by rivets 9. Passing through the loops 1 of the spring members F, I provide bolts H having heads h engaging the inner portion of said loops and reduced portions h terminating in shoulders 71. adapted to engage the inner edge of the buffers G. These bufi'ers are preferably made of rubber, or other suitable elastic material, perforated as at g; and if made of rubber are preferably reinforced against wear by the washers 9, bearing against the shoulder k of the bolt H. Outside ofthe loop 4 the outer ends of these bolts H carry steadying springs I, engaging between the loops and the nuts H which nuts engage the screwthreaded ends h of the bolts H, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. Any suitable nut.

lock arrangement may be used in connection with these nuts. The function of these buffers is to absorb the shock when an unusual or abnormal shock is thrown upon the 1 wheel, such as when the vehicle is heavily loaded, or when running over a stone or other obstruction in the road. By having eign matter. In the same way, the butter arrangement is not apt to collect objectionable foreign matter to such an extent as to prevent the free and efiicient operation of the buffers. V

The size andresiliency of the springs would be determined by the load to be supported by the wheel, and would vary greatly according to the nature of the vehicle for which the wheel is intended. Thus, if the wheel is intended for use with an ordinary bicycle the springs would be very light and of high resiliency; while if it is intended for use with a wagon carrying heavy loads the springs would be very much heavier and stronger. V

In mounting the springs after the bufiing arrangement is connected, the tension of the loops 4L is adjusted by screwing down the nutsH, causing the springs I to bear down on the loops and compressing the loops' somewhat and putting the same under initial compression. Moreover, thebending of the overlapping ends .7 of the spring members F will tend to put the metal tread of the wheel under initial compression, resisting any tendency to further compress the rim ofthe wheel. It will be seen that all of the springs areunder more or less compression, and are, therefore, what is commonly-known as l ve spr ngs.

While I have shown rubber buffers G mounted in the loops d, and adapted to prevent the undue compression of said loops when the load on the wheel exceeds a predetermined limit, it will be obvious that any other suitable form of shock absorber may be adopted for such purpose. 7

The wheel would ordinarily be used with its tread uncovered, as shown in Fig. 1, but

if desired an outer band or rim of any suitable flexible material may be applied, or any suitable anti-skidding device may be mounted over the rim of the wheel. Such outer rims, a ntirskidding devices, etc., are not, however, part of. my invention, andthese may be varied at will to suit varying conditions of the road, the weather, etc.

It will be obvious that various modifications might be made'in the herein described device, and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts which could he used without departing from the spirit of my invention. Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. In a resilient wheel the combination with an inner wheel or hub provided with a fixed metal band mounted thereon, of a resilient outer portion secured to said band and comprising a series of spring members projecting radially from said band, and having the central part of said radial portions curved to form U-shaped loops, and the elongated outer ends of said spring members overlapping and secured together, and bent to form a resilient metal tread for the wheel, with buffers mounted in said loops. substantially as described. I. I

2. In a resilient wheel the combination with an inner wheel or hub provided with a fixed metal band mounted thereon, of a resilient outer portion secured to said band and comprising series of spring members projecting radially from said band, and having the central part of said radial portions curved to form U-shaped loops, and the elongated uter ends of said spring members overlapping and secured together, and bent toform' a resilient metal tread for the wheel, with bolts spanning saidloops and passing through perforations in saidspringmembers, and buffers mounted on said bolts, and

' silient .outer portion secured to said band and comprising a series of spring members projecting radially from said band, and having the central part ofsaidradial portions curved to form U -shaped loops, and the elongated outer ends of said spring members bent at right angles to said radial portions and overlapping and riveted together, to form a resilient metal tread forthe wheel, with bufi'ers mounted in said loops, substantially as described.

i. In a resilient wheel the combination 7 with aninner wheel or hub provided with a fixed metal band mounted thereon, of a resilient outer portion secured to said band and comprising a series of spring members projecting radially from said band, and

having said radial portions curved to form loops, and the elongated outer ends of said spring members bent at right angles to said radial portions and overlapping and riveted together, to form a resilientinetal treadfor the wheel, with bolts spanning said loops and passing through perforations in said spring members, springs and nuts on the outer ends of said bolts adapted to hold said loops under mtlal compression, and buffers mounted on saidbolts, and adapted to take up the shock when said loops are compressed, substantially as described.

.5. In a resilient wheel the" combination with an inner wheel or hub provided with a fixed metal band; mounted thereon, of a resilient outer portion secured to said band and comprising a series of spring members projecting radially from said band, and having-said radial portions curved to form loops,

and the l0ng t .1 t ends f a d sp in and passing through perforations in said In testimony whereof, I afiix my signamembers bent at right angles to said radial. bufiers provided with Wear plates mounted portions and overlapping and riveted toon said bolts, and adapted to take up the 10 gether, to form a resilient metal tread for shock when said loops are compressed, subthe Wheel, with bolts spanning said loops stantially as described.

spring members, springs and nuts on the ture. outer ends of said bolts adapted to hold said loops under initial compression, and rubber EDWARD K. RABEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

